Repairman&#39;s creeper



Aug. 22, 1950 a. D. MOODY ETAL REPAIRMANS CREEPER I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 16, 1947 Fig. 2.

I )1 L'entors George D. Moody Ralph E. Moody Aug. 22, 1950 a. D. MOODY ETAL 2,520,047

REPAIRMANS CREEPER Filed May 16, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors George D. Moody Ralph E. Moody Patented Aug. 22, 1950 REPAIRMANS \CREEPER George D. Moody and Ralph E. Moody, Arkansas City, Kans.

Application May 16, 1947, Serial No. 748,542

2 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in creeper trucks such as are used by mechanics to recline upon under automobiles in repairing the same.

The primary object of our invention is to pro vide a strongly constructed creeper truck with a combination back and head rest adjustable to support the back and head at different angles to the horizontal with the shoulders raised so as to provide for free use of both arms particularly in exerting leverage and without excessive body strain.

Another object is to provide a device of the character and for the purpose above set forth equipped for easy propelling and steering by the legs with the feet pressing against the floor, or ground, and without sliding of the body on the truck and particularly adapted for propelling of the truck sideways by leg and foot pressure.

Another object is to provide a creeper truck involving a minimum number of parts and which is inexpensive to manufacture and service.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objects presently appearing, a preferred embodiment of our invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, set forth in detail in the succeeding description, and defined in the claims appended hereto.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of our improved creeper truck in the preferred embodiment thereof with the combined back and head rest swung upwardly into inclined position;

Figure 2 is a view in plan of the same;

Figure 3 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view in bottom plan;

Figure?) is a view in front end elevation;

Figure 6 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on the line 'l-l of Figure 5 and drawn to a larger scale.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals, our improved creeper truck as shown therein, comprises a rectangular bed frame I including side bars 2 and front and rear end bars 3, 4 all of angle iron suitably secured together with channel sides up, preferably. A cross angle bar 5 extends between the side bars 2 intermediate the transverse center of said frame I and the front end bar 3.

Caster wheels 6 support the frame I at the corners thereof and are suitably mounted in corner plates 1 on the bottom of said frame.

A seat forming plate 8 of sheet metal, or the like, covers the front portion of the frame I from the cross bar 5 to the front end of said frame and may be secured in place on said frame in any suitable manner. A hollow, preferably fiat-sided, horn 9 is formed on the seat forming plate 8 in upstanding position at the front of the frame I and in the longitudinal center of said frame, and which is formed with a downwardly and forwardly sloping front edge In and is open at its bottom in line with a slot H in the said plate 8, all for the purpose presently seen.

A combined back and head rest I2 is provided in the rear of the seat forming plate 8 comprising a rectangular angle iron frame I 3 adapted to fit in the frame 1 between the rear end bar 4 and the cross bar 5. The frame l3 supports a back rest plate l4 suitably fixed thereon and which is also formed of sheet metal, or the like, preferably. Front end hinges i5 connect the front end of the frame [3 to the cross bar 5 so that the combined back and head rest I2 is vertically swingable on said hinges into different inclined positions. The back rest plate It extends beyond the rear end of the frame I3 and supports a suitably padded head rest block It with the covering ll suitably secured in place by nails l8.

Means for swinging the combined back and head rest [2 upwardly is provided as follows. A hand crank ill at the front end of the frame I has one leg 20 slidably and swingably extended through a grommet-like bushing 2| fixed in the front edge ID of the horn 9, said leg 28 inclining downwardly and rearwardly out of the bottom of said horn 9 and the slot H and being connected by a universal joint 22 to the front end of a. screw shaft 23 extending horizontally rearwardly from said leg 28 below the seat forming plate 8 and the cross bar 5, in the longitudinal center of the frame i. A bearing block 24 depending from the seat forming plate 8 supports the front end of said shaft 23 which is slidably journaled therein. A threaded rear end portion 25 of said shaft 23 is threaded through a bearing block 26 depending from the cross bar 5 so that rotation of shaft 23 in opposite directions causes the same to be fed forwardly and rearwardly respectively.

An abutment plate 21 extends across the front end of frame 13 for engagement by said shaft 23 upon rearward feeding of the shaft, said plate having a rearwardly extending rib 28 in the longitudinal center of the frame l3 suitably fixed to the back rest plate M to brace the same.

The operation of the described creeper truck will now be described. By rotation of the hand with the legs: imparting sidewisez movement tothe truck by pressure of the legs against opposite sides of the horn 9. By rotating the hand crank IS in the opposite direction, the shaft 23 may berotated to feed rearwardly, to engage the abut-- ment plate 21 and thereby swing the combined back and head rest [2 upwardly to set the same in a selected inclined position, for instance that shown in the drawings. With the'combined'back and head rest thus set, a person seated on the seat forming plate 8 and reclining on saidrest, with legs astride the horn 9, may work under an automobile with maximum efiiciency as regards to use of the armsand back and without undue body strain, and may propel the truck, in the manner already described; without. slipping'down off the combined back and. head rest I'-2;.since the horn 9 maybe clampedbetween the'legsto prevent such. slipping.

The means described for mounting the hand crank I9 provides. aninexpensive simplified arrangement of parts whereby said crank is permitted to swing and slide to compensate for feed of the shaft 23 and its changein angular relation to said shaft as caused by feedof the shaft.

A panel 29, preferably of reticulated material, is provided for fitting in the bed frame I under the combined back and head rest I2 when. the latter is swung'upwardly, and'for supporting tools within easy reach of a person reclining on the truck. The panel 29 is removable to permit said rest to be swung down flat on the frame I.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufiice to impart a clear understanding of: our invention, without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification, without departing from the inventive concept, andright isherein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is-claimed rest hinged to saidframe at the rear edgeof said.

plate for swinging upwardly into different in.- clined positionsto support the back ofa. person seated on. said seat plate, a horn arising from. said seat plate for. straddling by the legs of the person seated onsaid plateand grippingbetween.

the legs to prevent the person from sliding forwardly on said seat plate, said horn providing for leg pressure being exerted sidewise against the same while the feet are used against the floor to propel the truck sidewise, and means to swing said combined back and head rest in different inclined positions comprising an abutment on said rest, a screw shaft mounted on said frame beneath saidplate for feeding against said abutment by rotation thereof, a hand crank with a leg inclining upwardly through said plate from one end of said shaft, a universal joint connecting said-leg-tosaid shaft, and means above said plate for mounting said leg for sliding and swinging movement thereof.

2. Ina truck of the class described, a rectangular frame provided with corner caster wheels, a seat plate fixed on said frame on one side of thetransverse center thereof and forming a front end seat on the frame, a combined back and head rest hinged to said frame at the rear edge of said plate for swinging upwardly into different inclinedpositions to support the back of a person seated on said seat plate, a horn arising from said seat plate for straddling by the legs of the person seated on said plate and gripping between the legs to prevent the-person from sliding forwardly on said seat plate, saldhorn: providing for leg pressure being exerted sidewise against the samewhile the feet are used against, the floor to propel the truck sidewise, and means to swing said combined back and head rest in different inclined positions comprising an abutment on said rest, a screw shaft mounted on. said frame beneath said plate for feeding against said abut ment by rotation thereof, ahand crank with a leg inclining upwardly through said plate from one end of said shaft, a universal joint connecting said crank to said'leg, and means a-bove said plate for mounting said leg for sliding and swinging movement thereof including a bearing in which said leg is slidable and swingable.

GEORGE D. MOODY. RALPH E. MOODY.

REFERENCES. CITED The following references are. of. record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 31,958 Daniels Apr. 9,,1861 138,860 Conger May 13, 1873. 1,788,088 Fabio Jan. 6,,1931 1,903,596 Richards Apr. 11, 1933 1,915,234 Magusin- June 20, 1933 2,016,119 Owler et al.. Oct..l, 1935 2,104,372' Matthies Jan. 4, 1938 2,219,905 Prickman Oct. 29,1940 2,430,662 Barton Nov. 11, 1947 

